Hair weaving and braiding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Hair holding apparatus comprises means for holding and positioning hair to be woven or braided onto the existing hair on a person&#39;s head. The apparatus includes a base member with at least one row of a plurality of prongs attached thereto and extending up therefrom. A back plate, perpendicular to the base plate is positioned a distance from the row of prongs. An accessory includes another base plate having a spindle extending in an upward direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention pertains in general to the field of hair weavingand braiding tools and accessories and in particular to the field ofapparatus for holding hair to be applied onto a person's existing hairduring the process of weaving or braiding the hair onto a person's head.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] One method of changing the appearance of a person's hair is toadd real hair to the existing hair on a person's head. This procedurecan be used to give the appearance that a person has more hair than heor she actually has. This procedure can also be used to give theappearance that a person has longer hair than he or she actually has.This procedure can also be used to change the texture of a person'shair. For example, a person's naturally curly hair can be made to appearstraight or wavy by applying such straight or wavy hair to the person'snaturally curly hair. The opposite is also possible, i.e., a person canbe given the appearance of having naturally curly hair when, in fact,the person's hair is straight. Another example is the addition of braidsto a persons hair. Of course, these are just some of the possiblereasons to explain why a person desires to add hair to his or herexisting hair.

[0005] One prior art method used to add additional hair to a person'shead is to weave the additional hair onto the existing hair of theperson. The weaving process provides the means to connect the hair to beadded to the person's existing hair. Weaving provides a secureconnection that withstands the effects of wind, rain, or washing inpreventing the woven hair from becoming dislodged from the person'snatural hair. The actual technique of weaving is not material to thepresent invention.

[0006] Hair to be woven is generally supplied in a form where the hairis attached to a long, thin strip of material. Individual strands ofhair are attached at one end to the long, thin strip of material, suchthat the individual strands extend away from the strip of material in asomewhat perpendicular fashion, with the plurality of strands beingparallel to each other along the entire length of the strip of material.In using this arrangement of supplied hair, the operator begins at oneend of the array and sequentially weaves each individual strand on tothe person's existing hair. In so doing, the operator must contend withremaining long length of hairs attached to the strip of material.Usually, the operator simply allows the remaining long length of hairsto hang from the person's head and onto the floor. This is not at allsatisfactory because the weight of the hanging length is constantlypulling away from the operator at the location on the person's headwhere the hair is being woven. Thus, the operator is continually havingto contend with the pulling force which is most inconvenient andcumbersome in that the pulling force opposes the operator's attempt toattach the hair

[0007] When a person's hair is to be braided, the additional hair isused to form the braids which are then caused to be attached in rowsalong a person's head. In this application the hair to be braided onto aperson's existing hair is usually provided in a bundle of individualhairs arranged parallel to each other. It is the operator's task toselect and separate a plurality of hairs from the original large bundleof hair, form the separated hairs into a small bundle of parallel hairsand braid the smaller bundle onto a person's existing hair. In so doing,the operator must carefully remove the selected hairs from the bundlewhile making certain that the bundle does not get tangled or otherwisedisarranged so that the operator can sequentially continue the processof selecting and removing hairs from the bundle. In the prior art, thisprocess is also most cumbersome and inconvenient. The result is usuallythat the bundle becomes so entangled that removal of additional hairscan not be accomplished in an orderly manner.

[0008] Accordingly, means and apparatus are needed to assist an operatorin controlling the hair to be attached to a person's head during weavingor braiding procedures. The present invention supplies this need.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 Isometrically illustrates one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

[0010]FIG. 2 illustrates an accessory which can be used with theapparatus of FIG. 1;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention aredisclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosedembodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodiedin various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as abasis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching oneskilled in the art to variously employ the present invention invirtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms andphrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, toprovide an understandable description of the invention.

[0012]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the inventive hair holder 10which solves the above-stated problems. A support member 15 comprisestwo elongated plates, a base plate 16 and a backing plate 17 arranged atninety (90°) degrees to each other. The overall length of each plate maybe of the order of 8-16 inches. Base plate member 16 may have a depth ofapproximately 2½ inches and a thickness of approximately {fraction(3/16)} to ⅞ of an inch. Backing plate member 17 may have a depth ofapproximately 2½ inches and a thickness of {fraction (3/16)} to ⅞ of aninch. Plate members 16 and 17 can be but need not be individual members;for example, they may comprise a single piece of bent or formed or castplastic.

[0013] A plurality of prongs 18 approximately two inches long areprovided, in an approximate straight line and along the length of platemember 16 at an approximate interval of one to two inches betweenadjacent prongs 18. One end of prongs 18 is attached to base platemember 16 and extends upwardly therefrom. The other end of prongs 18 issomewhat pointed or rounded. The space between prongs 18 and platemember 17 may be of the order of approximately one to two inches. Theinvention is not limited to the number of prongs shown nor the spacingtherebetween or to the spacing from plate member 17. The dimensions areapproximate and may be varied from those stated. Moreover, the use ofthe word “prongs” is not intended to be limiting. The same can also bereferred to as pegs. Regardless of nomenclature, the pegs or prongs 18can be completely cylindrical or tapered. Additionally, the taper canprogress in an upward or downward direction, or both such that theytaper outwardly from their attachment to base plate 16, then at somemidlength point, the taper progresses inwardly until the top is reached.

[0014] As noted above, hair to be woven onto a person's existing hair issupplied in a long strip of hairs that individually hang from a thinlong piece of material This parallel arranged length of hairs arrives ina rolled up form. In using the inventive apparatus, the operator beginsto unroll the hair and simultaneously places the beginning of the longthin strip of material over a prong 18 and between the inside surface ofthe upright backing plate 17 and flat against the base plate 16. As morehair is unrolled, the strip of long thin material is placed oversuccessive prongs 18 while assuring that the individual strands of hairextend away from the prongs and substantially perpendicular to the longoutside edge of the plate 16. Of course, the extending hair will drapedownwardly over the leading edge of the base plate 16. When the lastprong is reached, the operator reverses the direction of laying the hairover the prongs and extending away from the long outside edge of plate16. In this manner, the rolled supply of hair is unrolled and applied tothe inventive apparatus 10 first in one direction and then in a reverseddirection and then back in the first direction and so on until all ofthe supplied hair is unrolled and removably attached to the prongs ofthe inventive apparatus 10 and against the base plate 16. The hair to bewoven onto a person's existing hair is now arranged in a manner thatallows an operator to conveniently and controllably weave the hair ontoa person's head.

[0015] In applying the hair now arranged on the inventive apparatus 10,the operator takes hold of the uppermost end of the unrolled hair on theinventive apparatus, brings it up to the location of a person's headwhere the weaving is to start and begins to weave the hair onto aperson's existing hair. A threaded weaving needle can be used for thispurpose. At this time, a relatively short working length of the longthin strip of material (having the hairs attached thereto) is removedfrom the inventive apparatus 10 while a substantial portion of the sameis still attached to the inventive apparatus 10. Since a substantialportion of the hair is being held by holder 10, the full weight of thelong length of parallel hairs is not working against the operator sothat the operator can concentrate on the weaving and not have to dealwith a long length of hair extending away from the point of weaving.

[0016] As the weaving continues, the remaining portion of hair on theholder 10 is incrementally removed to reestablish the relatively shortworking length of hairs. This procedure continues until all of the hairis removed from the holder 10 and is woven onto the person's head.

[0017] The prongs 18 are preferably provided with a smooth outer surfaceand tip so that the hairs attached to the long thin strip of materialeasily slide over the prongs and easily slide off of the prongs. Thecontact surfaces of the holder, i.e. the inside surfaces of plates 16and 17 are preferably also provided with a smooth surface so that thehairs do not unduly catch on the same.

[0018] The holder itself 10, is configured to be able to be placed flaton a working table, or attached to a back side of a seat In either case,the holder should be relative secure against movement. The prior artcontains a number of options in this regard. The holder 10 can be screwattached to a working table, or attached thereto by a hook and loop typeof attachment. Additionally the slots 24 in the upright backing plate 17can be used to attach the holder 10, by the use of straps, to the backof the chair of the person whose hair is to be woven. Other prior artmeans of attaching the hair holding device 10 to either a horizontal ora vertical surface can be readily envisioned and are intended to beincluded within the breadth and scope of the present invention.

[0019] As stated above, hair to be braided onto a person's existing haircomes in a substantially round bundle of hairs arranged coextensive andparallel to each other and not connected together or to another object.In applying a bundle of hair to be braided, the bundle is removed fromits packaging and straightened as necessary. One end of the bundle isplaced between the first and second prongs starting from one side end ofthe holder 10. Then, the bundle is placed around the outside of thesecond prong 18 and in between the second and third prongs 18. Thebundle is then wrapped around the inside of the third prong 18 and outbetween the third and forth prong 18. In aiding the practicing of theinvention, this method of arranging the braiding hair to the holder 10can be envisioned as forming a serpentine in and between adjacent prongs18. The placement of the hair bundle in the manner described, continuesuntil the last prong 18 is reached, or the entire length of the hairbundle is applied to the holder 10. If the hair bundle is longer thanthe holder, an appropriate length of the bundle can be left overhangingone or both side edges of the holder 10. Of course, other in and outarrangements can be used to secure the braided type of hair to theholder 10.

[0020] Once the braided hair bundle is applied to the holder and theoperator is ready to begin braiding, the operator may then grasp aplurality of individual strands of hair from hair bundle andsequentially pull the selected strands away from the prongs 18 until afull length of a plurality of hairs are free of the hair bundle Theserpentine arrangement of the hair bundle maintains the remaining hairbundle in position and untangled on the holder. The operator then braidsthe first plurality of hairs onto the person's existing hair. Then, theoperator selects additional strands of hair, removes them from thebundle still remaining on the holder 10, and braids these selected hairsonto the person's head. This process continues until the braiding iscomplete and/or all of the hairs in the bundle have been removed andused.

[0021] To further assist an operator while weaving hair onto a person'shead, the invention contemplates the use of a thread holder 19 as shownin FIG. 2. Thread holder 19 includes a base member 20 with one or morespindles 21 extending therefrom. Spindles 21 are configured to allow aspool of thread to be placed thereover and to be free to rotate when theoperator is using the thread to threadingly weave the hair onto aperson's head. A notch 22 on the top end of spindle 21 is provided tosecure a loose thread end therewithin. A magnetic plate 23 may beprovided on base member 20 to magnetically hold one or more threadingneedles thereon for the convenience of the operator. Thus, an operatorcan have ready e access to the needles he or she will use during thehair weaving or braiding procedures. When the operator finishes using aneedle, the magnet pad provides a place to lay the needle for futureuse.

[0022] While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustratedand shown in certain terms or certain embodiments or modifications whichit has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intendedto be nor should it be deemed to be limited thereby and such othermodifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings hereinare particularly reserved. For example, the equivalent of the base plate16 can comprise the prongs themselves by providing them with a bentshape. One bottom portion of the prongs can be attached to the backingplate and extend horizontally therefrom. A second upper portion of theprongs can extend at a 90 degree angle from the bottom portion and in anupward vertical direction. In this manner, the bottom horizontal portionof the prongs would substitute for the base plate 16.

I claim:
 1. Hair holding apparatus adapted to hold and position hairthat is to be woven or braided onto the existing hair on a person's headcomprising: An elongated base plate, said base plate being removablyattachable to another surface, at least one plurality of prongs attachedto a top surface of said elongated base plate and extending therefrom ina direction substantially perpendicular to said top surface of saidelongated base plate, said prongs being arranged spaced from each otherand in a generally straight line along said elongated base plate, andmeans to removably attach said hair holding apparatus to anothersurface.
 2. The hair holding apparatus of claim 1, including a backplate attached to said base plate along a back edge of said elongatedbase plate, said back plate extending in a direction parallel to theline of said prongs and spaced therefrom.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said another surface is a horizontal surface.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein said another surface is a vertical surface.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said prongs each comprise a generallyelongated cylindrical member that tapers slightly in the direction awayfrom said elongated base plate and terminates in a slightly pointed topend.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 including another base plate separateand apart from said elongated base plate, said another base plate havingat least one prong thereon extending in a direction perpendicular to atop surface of said another base plate.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6including a magnetic pad located on said top surface of said anotherbase plate.
 8. Hair holding apparatus adapted to hold and position hairthat is to be woven or braided onto the existing hair on a person's headcomprising: An elongated backing plate, at least one plurality of prongsattached to a top surface of said elongated backing plate and extendingtherefrom in a first direction substantially perpendicular to said topsurface of said elongated backing plate, and in a second directionsubstantially perpendicular to said first direction, said prongs beingarranged in a spaced relationship from each other and in a generallystraight line along said elongated backing plate, and means to attachsaid holding apparatus to a vertical surface.